When the World Came to Knoxville

When the World Came to Knoxville: China

By Ernie Freeberg,

Published May 27, 2022 at 5:56 PM EDT

In our second episode, UT History professor Ernie Freeberg speaks with UT historian Dr. Shellen Wu, a specialist in modern Chinese history. She helps us understand the origin and legacy of the fair’s most popular exhibit, the pavilion hosted by the People’s Republic of China. Promoters of the fair liked to claim that history was being made in Tennessee—and in the case of the China pavilion, they delivered on that promise.

When the World Came to Knoxville

Ernie Freeberg

Ernest Freeberg is an American historian in 19th and 20th-century American culture, currently a Distinguished Humanities Professor and Departmental Chair of History at the University of Tennessee.

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Todd Steed

A Knoxville native, Todd began working at WUOT in 2006 as jazz coordinator now serves as program director and host of Studio 865/Flipside, Improvisations and Changing Course. Todd's newest podcast is Improvisations to Go. Todd got his start in radio at WUTK, where he served as both news and music director while earning his undergraduate degree in journalism at UT. He later earned a master’s degree in education from UT and worked for several years in Programs Abroad. Todd was inducted into the East Tennessee Writer's Hall of Fame in 2023. He was also recently honored with the UT School of Journalism and Media 2024 Alumni of the Year Award.

You can reach Todd at steed@wuot.org

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